Pediatric Epinephrine Dose Calculator

The pediatric epinephrine dose calculator allows you to estimate the amount of epinephrine required for a child, no matter the route of administration, be it Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular (IM), Subcutaneous (SC), Endotracheal (ET) or via a nebulizer.

We will also provide you with essential information on the epinephrine dose for anaphylaxis in pediatrics, as well as the dose of an EpiPen for kids.

For the convenience of use, our pediatric epinephrine (adrenaline) dose calculator will equip you with results in both mL and mg.

If you're looking for everyday calculations instead, try our pediatric paracetamol dosage calculator and general pediatric dose calculator.

We try our best to make our Omni Calculators as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and should not serve as a substitute for medical consultation. Always seek the advice of a health provider.

dose needed (mg) = child weight (kg) × dosage of Epi (mg/kg)

The pediatric epinephrine dose depends on a route of administration and the age of the child:

Values for older infants and children (>28 days old):

• Intravenous, into the vein (IV) - 0.01 mg/kg of 1:10,000 solution;
• Intramuscular, into the muscle (IM)/ Subcutaneous (SC) - 0.01 mg/kg of 1:1,000 solution;
• Endotracheal, into the trachea (ET) - 0.1 mg/kg of 1:1,000 solution; and
• Nebulizer, inhalation - 0.5 mg/kg of 1:1,000.

You need to remember to:

• Check the maximum dose (in the section below);
• Measure the current weight of the child; and
• Check the type of solution used.

Values for newborn infants (<28 days old):

• Intravenous (IV): 0.01-0.03 mg/kg of 1:10,000 solution; and
• Endotracheal (ET): 0.03-0.1 mg/kg of 1:10,000 solution.

➡️ In case you need any other specialist calculators, make sure to check out the following:

• pediatric blood volume calculator; and
• pediatric GFR calculator.

The maximum pediatric Epi dose depends on the route of administration, as well as the reason for use.

• Intravenous administration

Maximum dose for pediatric use is 1 mg.

Reason: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (IV infusion requires a different dosage!).

• Intramuscular or subcutaneous injections

Maximum dose: 0.3 - 0.5 mg.

Reason: Severe aggravation of asthma - SC, allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

• Endotracheal administration

Maximum dose: 10 mg.

Reason: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

• Nebulizer

Maximum dose: 5 mg.

Reason: Obstruction of the airways caused by croup (acute laryngotracheobronchitis - LTB)

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction which may have fatal consequences. We can treat this reaction with an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of epinephrine - we can perform them with either a regular syringe, or with an automatic EpiPen.

The pediatric EpiPen dose is fixed and depends on the weight of the child, which makes it easier to use:

• Junior - 0.15 mg of epinephrine (for patients with 15 - 30 kg)
• Regular - 0.3 mg of epinephrine (for patients with 30 kg or more)

An IM Epi dose for pediatrics using a regular syringe is 0.01 mg/kg of a 1:1,000 solution (0.01 ml/kg).

During anaphylactic shock, do not forget about the rapid infusion of fluids! Calculate your patient's maintenance fluids!

We can administer epinephrine (adrenaline) dose in pediatrics with two different solutions, namely 1:1,000 and 1:10,000. No matter the concentration, we still need to provide the same amount of adrenaline: the critical difference lies in the volume of the solution required:

• 1 mg/kg of 1:1,000 solution equals 1 mL/kg; and
• 1 mg/kg of 1:10,000 solution equals 10 mL/kg.